2 Comments »

Bananas bearing the FAIRTRADE Certification Mark have been produced by small farmer organizations or in plantations that meet high social and environmental standards. Farmers who produce Fairtrade certified bananas are guaranteed a Fairtrade minimum price to cover the costs of sustainable production and a Fairtrade Premium of US$ 1 per 18.14kg-box of bananas to invest in projects in their communities.

So it’s an effort to co-ordinate ‘small’ farmers standing up against the relentlessness of huge conglomerates controlling the production/import/export supply chain? With a strong co-op, small-s socialist angle?

I remember being confronted with a big chain trying to flex its muscles and grind my prices lower & lower. They also tried to load other ‘expenses’ and even onerous credit terms (like, they wouldn’t pay my company for goods delivered for three months, and them wanted to retrospectively discount those ‘Christmas promotion’ sales) … Oh, that’s right, they would also choose to feature my products in their promotion … then charge me an ‘advertising’ fee for that!

So, I’m familiar with the dangers of one’s ‘big customers’ becoming too dominant — then trying it on with new and creative ways to screw you, the supplier, down.